MANKATO, Minn.-Buckeye offensive defenseman Emma Laaksonen (So., Espoo, Finland/Makelanrinteen) turned in a three-point performance to lead Ohio State women’s hockey to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota State Saturday in the series finale at All Seasons Arena. Laaksonen, the first star of the game, was involved in all five Ohio State goals on the weekend, scoring twice and adding three assists. Following the series sweep-their first against a league opponent this season-the Buckeyes improve to 7-6-3 overall and 4-5-3 in the WCHA and are unbeaten in six of their last seven games (5-1-1). Minnesota State slips to 2-13-1 overall and 0-10-0 in the WCHA.

The scoreless first period saw Ohio State outshoot Minnesota State, 13-5, as most of the action took place in the Mavericks’ zone.

At 7:48 in the second stanza, Lindsay McCulloch put MSU on the board, lofting a high shot from behind the blue line which Buckeye goalie Melissa Glaser’s (So., Rockford, Ill./St. Mark’s) jumped up to defend. The puck sailed over Glaser’s shoulder and dropped into the back of the net and the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead. Emily Hudak (Jr., Marblehead, Mass./Cushing Academy) tied the game at one with a power-play goal at 13:58. Laaksonen found Heather Farrell (So., Perth, Ontario/Pomfret) on the point and Farrell passed the puck to Hudak who converted on a point shot through traffic. The game remained tied at one going into the second intermission.

Ohio State took the lead for good with a power-play goal at the 12:14 mark of the third. Shana Frost (Jr., Frankford, Ontario/Bayside) tapped the puck to Jeni Creary (Fr., Shell Lake, Saskatchewan/Notre Dame College) whose shot deflected of MSU netminder Shari Vogt’s pad. Laaksonen was ready for the rebound and found empty net behind Vogt who was still defending Creary in front of the net. At 13:43 in the third, Jennifer Desson (Fr., Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Paul’s) drove home Laaksonen’s shot to put the Buckeyes ahead, 3-1. Jeanne Chapple (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn./Mounds View) recorded the second assist, dishing the puck to Laaksonen from behind the net. Ohio State outshot Minnesota State, 42-11. Glaser recorded her second-consecutive win behind 10 saves and Vogt stopped 39-of-42 Buckeye shots.

The Buckeye power-play unit got back on track, converting twice in three opportunities, and Ohio State held the Mavericks scoreless through one power-play chance.

Ohio State returns to the OSU Ice Rink for a non-league series with the Princeton Tigers, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15. Opening faceoff is at 7:05 p.m. both nights.